Strange thing that happened/how many times you can reload a case...

[BE Mike]

I'm not talking about the brass permanently stretching length wise, but rather stretching radially, especially in tapered chambers like the .45 Colt, and long tapering chambers like the .22 Hornet. I've never had to trim either of them, but both examples develop spider cracks in the walls much quicker with higher pressure loads.

The OP is talking about .45 ACP cases here. They don't stretch, but shrink with subsequent reloading. The shrinkage isn't to a degree that it is a problem. Some folks have loaded .45 ACP casing so many times that the case head markings are unreadable!

 

[retarmyaviator]

Still reloading 45 ACP cases with WWII arsenal markings and dates. Over the years I have shot them in 1911s, S&Ws and full auto Thompsons. Occasionally will find one with a split case but that is to be expected as old as some are.

 

[johnjohn]

When I started (.38 spec) I never bought brass. The range I shot at had it laying all over the ground. A lot of it split quickly,some not so quick but what you want for free.
I don't remember the last time I found any .38 or .357 brass lying on the ground.

 

[cmj8591]

But sometimes THIS happens:

This is a 44 Mag case that was shot several times in a Winchester 1894 that has, how can I say it, an issue? It tends to be a little on the long side when you measure its head space. This separation happened in a 629. Other than having to get the case out of the cylinder, it fired normally and I didn't even know it happened until I went to eject the cases.

 

[Tu_S]

But sometimes THIS happens:

This is a 44 Mag case that was shot several times in a Winchester 1894 that has, how can I say it, an issue? It tends to be a little on the long side when you measure its head space. This separation happened in a 629. Other than having to get the case out of the cylinder, it fired normally and I didn't even know it happened until I went to eject the cases.

Had this happen a while ago in a 1911. Didn't know it happened until the next round wouldn't chamber.

 

[BE Mike]

I never reload to maximum velocities (pressures). I like maximum accuracy better. As long as the OP sticks with moderate loads, brass will last many times and when it does fail, it won't be a huge issue. For hunting or self-defense loads, I stick with new or once or twice fired brass. I have found that R-P brass gives out the quickest.

 

[Cdog]

I'll echo what others have stated about rimless straight wall cases. I'm still loading .45 ACP brass that was pretty well battered when I first started handloading in the mid 1980's. It's ugly, many you can no longer make out their headstamp, but they hold primers, powders and projectiles as well as ever.

I've loaded .45 Colt brass well beyond normal limits .45 Colt "Ruger-T/C Only" pressures and still have very good case life.

On the other hand, I've intentionally loaded .38 Special to .357 mag pressures (fired from a Ruger .357) and quickly saw signs of distress.

Bottom line, at reasonable pressures and not repeatedly exposed to excessive case mouth expansion most straight wall cases will keep going and going and going. Sorry couldn't resist. No offense intended Mr. Energizer Bunny.

May be my experience alone, but I watch nickeled cases much closer than standard brass. It's a bit less malleable and I've seen splits and cracks appear much sooner.

 

[gwpercle]

45 acp are a low pressure round and have a long case life .
Inspect brass carefully and when you notice a tiny crack in the mouth ...or ... less often a tiny crack (split) lower down , vertically , on the case body starting to develop ... toss them and replace .
I have some Target 45 acp from the 1960's , Military Match , I have reloaded at least 25 times ...two or three have failed but most just carry on ... or get lost !
In the late 60's and 70's once fired military cases were cheap and plentiful ... I'm still reloading from a 5 gal. bucket -o-brass bought back then ... they last .

For max. case life , load Target or Mid-Range loads and start with a few hundred brand new Starline cases .

 

[cmj8591]

The OP is talking about .45 ACP cases here. They don't stretch, but shrink with subsequent reloading. The shrinkage isn't to a degree that it is a problem. Some folks have loaded .45 ACP casing so many times that the case head markings are unreadable!

I know there are internet theories that a brass case will lose brass as it is fired, thus it "shrinks", but I can say that in all of my experience, I've never seen it happen. I think if it is really happening it is on a level that can't be measured by a home reloader. The information that I've seen is mostly internet drivel. Can anyone point me to a reliable source that explains it in detail?

 

[max503]

Some of my 38 brass is for sure from the 80's and it's been reloaded scads of times. This is my plinking stuff. It gets reloaded on the Dillon. I inspect every case before setting it in the die. The reject rate has been getting lower lately but I'd guess it's around 5%. The lot size is several hundred.

 

[BE Mike]

I know there are internet theories that a brass case will lose brass as it is fired, thus it "shrinks", but I can say that in all of my experience, I've never seen it happen. I think if it is really happening it is on a level that can't be measured by a home reloader. The information that I've seen is mostly internet drivel. Can anyone point me to a reliable source that explains it in detail?

Google is your friend. Just look for .45 ACP brass shrinkage.

 

[sniper]

I had some Sellier and Bellot (sp?).38 Special brass I decided to shoot to failure. I gave up after I don't know how many reloads. YMMV!

 

[Nevada Ed]

I had a W-W .357 case separate it's top 1/3 of its case on a standard
357 load, in a 6" revolver, one time.
I did not know that it separated, until this "Short" case ended up in my open palm.

I have yet to have that happen to any of my 9mm cases but I have only been able
to load a case six times, before I loose them or they move on.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Due to scarcity I reload 410 hulls till the crimp burns off or it splits on the side........Some have been in the barrel 7-8 times.......WWaa 410 hulls last the longest.

 

[Inland7-45]

I got my start in reloading with the .38 Special in the early 70s. They were fired out of either a model 36 or Colt Officers Model. My first brass was all nickeled cases with mixed head stamps. This came from a purchase of about 250 - 300 commercial reloads. Our LGSs always had buckets of brass of various calibers and within a year or so my brass stash hit about 2,000 pieces. My guess is that some of these cases have been fired
at least 20 times. Occasionally one or two would split. While I never kept track of the number of firings I have become a lot better organized over the years. I am still working with the start up brass after all these years. I now separate and load batches by head stamp. I have added better case prep equipment with the goal of having a finished product that is of consistent quality. I got a later start with .45 ACP but my experience has been similar with one exception. I had picked up some RA 61 marked GI .45 brass from the range at a local club. This stuff was left on the ground by a competitive shooter who was also a reloader. It all had red layout dye on the headstamp which was his code not to load it any more. Out of the 50 or so pieces that I reloaded 2 had head separation with the forward piece of the case stuck in the chamber. These were all later discarded after firing.

So as a rule with .38, .38S&W, .32 Long and .45'ACP I don't worry about number of firings.

With 30-06 and 8x57 I do keep track of firings and check for signs of head separation before discarding brass.

 

[H Richard]

I recall a Gun Mag writer that ran a test to see hwo many loading's a .38 Spec case would take. He started out with 10 rounds and fired and reloaded 100 times and decided to just take one of the cases and shoot and reload it until it failed. If I recall correctly the case developed a small crack at the neck after over 300 loading's.

After reading that I didn't worry about how many times my cases were loaded. I just put the empties in a bucket until it fills up then reload all.

Now, with high power rifle cases, it can be a different story. Some calibers will develop a "bright line" about a quarter inch above the base which is a sign of imminent case head separation. There is a test tool, a paper clip. Stretch it out, and take a needle nose pliers and bend the tip about 1/8" to 45 degrees. Sharpen the tip and use it as a "feeler" gauge inside the case. As you run the "tool" up and down the inside of the case you will find a spot where the case will separate it will feel like a large cavity. Toss that case.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I do ALL my handgun cases as H Richard does.......On My hunting rifle cases I'm a lot more paticular. But still load them lots of times if they make the cut.

My "test tool" paper clip hangs on a screw in front of my loader.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I recall a Gun Mag writer that ran a test to see hwo many loading's a .38 Spec case would take. He started out with 10 rounds and fired and reloaded 100 times and decided to just take one of the cases and shoot and reload it until it failed. If I recall correctly the case developed a small crack at the neck after over 300 loading's.

After reading that I didn't worry about how many times my cases were loaded. I just put the empties in a bucket until it fills up then reload all.
.......
.......

I once started out with 1,200 pieces of brand new .38 Special cases. I was counting the times I loaded them but when I got to 40+ I never counted again...

 

[glenwolde]

I've got .38 brass from the 80's that's been fired so many times the headstamps are almost peened smooth.

 

[zeke]

I know there are internet theories that a brass case will lose brass as it is fired, thus it "shrinks", but I can say that in all of my experience, I've never seen it happen. I think if it is really happening it is on a level that can't be measured by a home reloader. The information that I've seen is mostly internet drivel. Can anyone point me to a reliable source that explains it in detail?

imo 45 acp brass shrinks from being resized so many times, and it does indeed shrink in length (but doesn't "lose brass"). Take a case that has been reloaded multiple times and measure oal after being resized. Measure diameter right below where most resizing dies can resize to, then measure the dia that was resized. Compare to a brand new case of same make. Then use a pass through die that resizes the entire case body, and re-measure the oal. The brass isn't "lost", but is displaced.

Just several years ago retired my 1940's era cases as they were starting to split. They were with a case of reloads when started with 45 acp.

From what is visible after blowing up the pic, the op's cases look barely used. Firing/extraction/ejection mark up cases even from light loads. The loss of the brass's elasticity can be moderated with a Lee undersize die if that is a concern.

Ime straight wall pistol cases can indeed stretch when shot through a lever action rifle with full power loads. Have experienced this with 357 and 44 mag cases.